Platen lock for car dumpers



July 5 1932.

4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 10. 1950 Jul '5, 1932.

R. W. KALTENBACH PLATEN LOOK FOR CAR DUMP-ERS Filed March 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W w 3 4% o a M Z.

July 5, 1932. R. w. KALTENBACH PLATEN LOCK FOR CAR DUMPERS 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1950 July 5, 1932- R. w. KALTENBACH 1,365,763

PLIATEN LOOK FOR CAR DUMPERS Filed March 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7

( liter/new Patented July 5, 1932 BOIBERT W. KALTENBAGH, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS;.,OHIQ

PLATEN Locxron GAE BUMP R-s 'Application filed March 10, 19305 Seria1"No.'434=,558.'

This invention relates to 7 car dumpers, which are used for dumping the contentswof a railroad car by inverting the car while it is held within acradle.- One form of dumper heretofore used utilizes a platen, which car ries "the 'car supporting tracks, and which is adapted to be shifted with relationto the cradle until oneside of the car engages the buffers against which itis held during the dumping operation. Counterweighted cables are adapted to engage the top ofthe car, and'to' hold it-on the tracks while'it is in the inverted position. Frequently, aecarwill be so loaded however, that lumps of coal will be caught between the cables and the top edge" of the car, and will thereby prevent thecables from directly engaging the car. Then, as soon as the weight of thecar is thrown onto the cables, the coal is crushed, with the result that-the car is subjected to 'a jerk, which in some cases has-caused-it to leave the rails.

Thisleaves the platenfree to move with ref-I erence to thecradle, so that when the :car is jerked'b'ack, the wheels areout o f registration with the tracksand the car is derailed.

One form of mechanism heretofore used lorholding the platen against movement with'r'elation to the cradle under the condi tions-described has comprised arack an d a pawl, which is adapted to coact therewith and to lock the platen in the desired position. Such-apparatus isnot only expensiv'e however, but is not foolproof, as there isa likelihood of the pawl failing to engage the rack tooth at the desired time due to the lost'motion between the pawl and rack tooth.

One of the objects of the present invention therefore, is the provision of a simple device, which will effectively lock the platen against movement with relation to the cradle, while thecrad'le is tilted even though the car wheels should "leave the rails momentarily during the dumping operation. A: further object is to'make device, which will be fool-proof in operation, and which will be more economical'to manufacture and assemble than-any device'her'etofore used.

As the'rack and'pawl mechanism heretor foreused has been operated under the action oi gravity and as the mechanism employed is not suficiently accuratetor accomplishing thedesired result; it is also oneof the-objects of my invention to provide a' mechanism: which is operative to produce anrefiective locking action between"- the platenand cradte independently of the action ofgraivityh Referring now to the-drawings, Fig." 1 is a vertical transverse sectionrthrough the cradle-parted a car dumper cradle embody ing my invention; Fig.2 is a section taken'on the line 22 inil lig xlg .3 is a vertical transverse: sectional view through; a:. car dumper scradle showinga modificatiomofzmy invention; Fig.4 is asection-taken on'the'lime 4 l*in' Fig.3; -'Fig'.i.5:is' aavertical section showing 2 another "modification of myinven-i tionr; Figs-6' is a sectiontaken ontheliner616 in Fig. 5 Fig.7 isxaavertical transverse sec+ ticn through the cradle shown in Fig; 1 .with the cradle in tilted position; Fig.':8'-is:-a wir ing diagram; and iFigg 93 is a diagrammatic View: showing the: relationship. between the switch? contact members WllQH'xtlIGOIZLCll hdS reached. the upper limit of vertical traye'l with reference to the frame.

My invention is shown in connection with a carrdumper havingrancradle 10 which may carryirol lers :11 on which atplaten 12 is supported. Theaplaten isshown as having tracks 131011 wh'ch a carall; is adapted tobe support ed duringqthezdumpin'g.operation; Nor-mally, the platen: inv the position shown in Fig. 1 hasthe'tracks inuregistration with'the approach and run-0E tracks (not shown)-respective'ly; In such position, the side 15 of the caris out of contact with thebufl'fer 16 on the cradle. During the initial movement of the tilting operation, theplaten is moved laterally untilthe side of the car engages the buffer; The'present'invention is not'concerned with the mechanism forefli'ecting such lateral movement but is concerned with means for securely locking the platen-against further movement afterthe side ofthe car engages the butter:

One form of mechanism which has been found'to be satisfactory for returning the platen to'the normalposition atthe end of the tilting operation, utilizes a bell crank lever '20 which 1 is pivoted .intermediately at '21 to the cradle. One end of the lever is pivot ally connected at one end thereof, as by a link 22 to the platen, while the other end is provided with a roller 23 for engagement with an abutment (not shown).

My invention provides an operative connection between the cradle and platen which permits relative movement at the start, and at the end of the tilting operation, but which prevents relative movement while the car is inverted. To this end, I utilize a brake which is adapted to hold the platen against movement with relation to the cradle and which is adapted to be locked either manually or automatically at the desired time.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the brake is electrically operated and is operatively connected to that part of the bell crank lever which forms the arm 25. To this end, I have shown a bracket 26, which is rigidly mounted on the arm 25, and which is pivotally connected at 27 to a rod 28. The opposite end of the rod is shown as being slidably mounted in a saddle 29, and as being provided with rack teeth on the upper side thereof. The saddle is pivotally hung upon a shaft 31, which is shown as being journalled in suitable bearing blocks 82 and 33 upon the cradle structure. The shaft has a pinion 34 rigidly mounted thereon for engagement with the rack and has a drum 35 positioned at the outer end thereof. Brake shoes 36 are then arranged to act upon the drum either by any suitable electrically or mechanically operated means.

It is my desire that the brake mechanism be released to permit the necessary movement of the platen with reference to the cradle until the car has engaged the buffer, and preferably until the cradle has tilted to such extent that all slack between the trucks and rails will have been taken up. Then, it is my desire that the brake be locked and maintained in such condition until the contents of the car are emptied and the cradle is on the return movement. At such time, the brake can be released so as to permit return movement of the platen to the normal position.

When an electric brake is used for this purpose, provision can be made in the circuit for a contact switch that will be automatically closed as the cradle reaches a predetermined position on the forward motion, and automatically opened when the cradle reaches the same position on the return motion.

A wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 8 shows a source of supply 40' in circuit with an electro-magnetic brake mechanism illustrated in general at 4:1 and a circuit controller. The controller is in the form of a switch having a stationary contact member 43 and a movable contact member 44. The stationary member may be mounted on the car dumper frame 9 and the movable member may be mounted on the cradle, and the relationship may be such that the circuit is closed at any desired position of the. cradle with reference tothe frame. In Fig. 9 for example, the cradle is shown at the upper limit of vertical movement with reference to the frame, at which time the movable contact 4A is out of engagement with the stationary contact 43. After the cradle has been tilted a predetermined degree however, such as is shown by the broken lines in Fig. 8, the movable contact engages the stationary contact, and thereby completes the circuit through the electromagnetic brake mechanism. To allow for movement of the cradle with reference to the frame, one of the wires 8 is shown as depending in a loop from the stationary contact member to the cradle.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a modification of my invention which obviates the necessity for the use of the rack and pinion to connect the brake drum to the bell crank lever. I accomplish this result by mounting the brake drum directly upon a shaft which forms the fulcrum of the bell crank lever.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown still another modification for eliminating the rack and pinion connection. In the arrangement shown, the drum is supported in the same manner as that illustrated in Fig. 1 but the pinion is replaced by a sprocket sheave around which a chain 56 is adapted to extend. One end of the chain is connected to the bell crank lever at 57 above the fulcrum, and the other end is connected at 58 below the fulcrum.

W ith both modifications, the circuit arrangement is the same as that described for use in connection with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, in that the drum is arranged to'rotate freely until all of the sidewise slack movement of the trucks shall have been taken up. Thereafter, the brake is locked and is maintained in such condition until the cradle on the return motion shall have reached the point at which the brake was locked. At such point, it is released.

WVhile I have described my invention in connection with the use of an electro dynamic brake, which is adapted to be released and locked automatically, nevertheless it is tobe understood that if desired, the brake may be locked and released manually by the operation of suitable brake control levers within reach of one of the operators.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that my invention provides a simple and effective automatic means for permitting necessary movement of the platen with reference to the cradle at the desired time, and yet automatically locks it against such relative movement while the car is inverted. It is obvious moreover, that the locking can be effected without the occurrence of any lost motion between the platen and cradle. This, therefore, eliminates the possibility of the platen being free to move out of position after being released from pressure due to the force exerted by the weight of the car, load and trucks upon the crushing of a lump of coal which may have been lodged between the car and cable.

I claim:

1. In a car dumper, the combination with a tiltable cradle, of a car supporting platen movably mounted thereon, a locking device on the cradle, means for connecting said de vice to the platen, and electromagnetic means acting upon said device for looking it, whereby the platen may be locked against movement in either direction with reference to the cradle and independently of a car on the cradle.

2. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle, of a car supporting platen movably mounted thereon, a member mounted for rotation on the cradle, means connecting the member and platen for moving the member Whenever the platen is moved with relation to the cradle, and electrically actuated means for locking the member against rotation when the cradle is tilted, whereby the platen may be locked against movement in either direction with reference to the cradle.

3. In a car dumper, the combination with a tiltable cradle, of a car supporting platen shiftable laterally thereon, a member rotatably mounted on the cradle, a system of linkage connecting the member to the platen for moving the member whenever the platen is moved with relation to the cradle, a brake adapted to engage the member and electromagnetic means for locking the brake whereby the platen may be locked against movement with reference to the cradle.

4. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle member, of a platen member movably mounted thereon, a friction drum mounted for rotation on one of said members, means connecting the drum to the other of said members for rotating the drum whenever the platen is moved with relation to the cradle, and means engaging the drum for locking it against rotation whereby the platen may be locked against movement in either direction with reference to the cradle.

5. In a car dumper, the combination With a cradle, of a member mounted for rotation thereon, a platen movably mounted upon the cradle, means including a rack and pinion for connecting the member and platen, and a brake adapted to engage said member to lock it against rotation whereby the platen may be locked against movement with reference to the cradle.

6. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle, of a platen movably mounted thereon, an arm pivotally mounted upon the cradle, means connecting the arm to the platen, a drum, means for moving the drum with the arm, a brake engaging the drum, and means for locking the brake, whereby the platen may be locked against movement with reference to the cradle.

7 In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle, of a platen movably mounted thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on the cradle means for connecting the lever to the platen to move it with reference to the cradle, a drum rotatably mounted upon the cradle, and mechanism including a rack and pinion for connecting the drum to the arm, whereby movement of the arm effects rotation of the drum, and a brake operating upon the drum to lock it against rotation, whereby the platen may be locked against movement with relation to the cradle.

8. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle, of a platen movably mounted thereon, an arm pivotally mounted on the cradle, means for connecting the arm to the platen, a drum rotatably moimted upon the cradle, mechanism including a flexible member for connecting the drum to the lever, and a brake acting upon the drum to lock it against rotation whereby the platen may be locked against movement with relation to the cradle.

9. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle, of a platen movably mounted thereon, an arm and a drum mounted upon a common point on the cradle, means for connecting the arm to the platen, and mechanism acting upon the drum to lock it against rotation, whereby the platen may be locked against movement with relation to the cradle.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afi ix my signature.

ROBERT W. KALTENBACH. 

